The Northern Illinois University campus police chief, who drew national attention in the aftermath of a 2008 campus shooting that left five students and the gunman dead, has been placed on 30-day paid leave pending the outcome of an investigation into allegations raised by a student newspaper editorial.

Donald Grady has been accused by Justin Weaver, editor in chief of the Northern Star newspaper, of threatening him during an interview that allegedly turned into an hours-long tirade.

Grady also allegedly held out the possibility of a job for Weaver if a positive story was written.

Three members have been named to what will be a four-person panel reviewing Grady's performance, a university spokeswoman said.